Device for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining elements on tiled faces

ABSTRACT

A device for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining elements, such as borders, tiles, plates, and similar, on tiled faces, including a bar of substantially U-shaped cross-section which can be fastened to the wall surface between two rows of tiles, and on which the wall and floor lining elements can be detachably fastened between first and second legs extending from a U-shaped portion of the bar. The first leg is movable with respect to the second leg so that a distance between the first and second legs can be varied.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to and claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, from German Patent Application No. 101 19 206.1, filed on Apr. 19, 2001, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporation by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a device for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining parts, such as borders, tiles, plates or similar, on tiled faces.

[0004] 2. Discussion of Background

[0005] Borders, for instance, could be a strip on tiled faces, the strip being set off against the faces of the tiles by the color of the strip and/or by the surface structure of the strip. Borders are frequently used as design elements in bathrooms, restrooms, kitchens, and similar.

[0006] Ceramic borders are produced in all conceivable colors and designs, ranging from very modem to antique. Therefore, it is often the case that the borders become “old-fashioned” or are no longer liked after only a short period of time.

[0007] The present state of the laying techniques in the tilers' trade is that, as a rule, the borders are always fixed to the tiles, i.e. fastened with tile adhesive. The fastening is such that, in the case of exchange, the borders usually cannot be removed without being destroyed. Furthermore, the remainders of the old tile adhesive or mortar have to be removed prior to laying new borders, so as to be able to apply a new adhesive or mortar bed.

[0008] This equally applies to tiles, plates, or different wall and floor lining elements of ceramics or natural stone which have, deviating from the classical strip form of borders, e.g., a square shape, and are irregularly inserted on tiled faces as so-called “decorating tiles.” The “decorating tiles” are also subject to the fashion of the times and must or should be exchanged after a certain amount of time, which causes the same above-mentioned problems.

[0009] German patent document no. 195 07 661 (hereinafter “DE '661”) discloses a border for tiled faces which can be applied by means of a mounting bar (i.e., rail) that is fixable to a wall between two rows of tiles. The mounting bar is of a substantially U-shaped cross-section, and the border is kept between the two legs extending from the U-shaped portion of the mounting bar. In the case of the system disclosed in DE '661, the mounting bar and the border are components that have been especially adjusted to one another. In other words, the borders have to comprise recesses at their two longitudinal edges, with which the engaging projections, which are provided on the legs of the mounting bar, can engage. However, commercial ceramic or natural stone borders, strips, tiles, and similar do not comprise such recesses or grooves at their edges and thus, are not suited to be fastened with the system disclosed in DE '661. Hence, the system disclosed in DE '661 cannot be used at all for fastening commercial ceramic borders and similar. In the case of the system disclosed in DE '661, the border, or the outwardly visible decorating element, that is fastenable on the mounting bar, is therefore designed in the form of an elongated profile border which is available, more or less, as a yard good of wood or as an extruded plastic border.

[0010] German patent document no. 198 34 787 (hereinafter “DE '787”), which the present invention is similar to, but has a unique advantage over, describes an exchangeable border system for the exchangeable fixing of borders on tiled faces, The system disclosed in DE '787 comprises a bar of substantially U-shaped cross-section which can be fastened to the face between two rows of tiles, and on which the borders can be fastened detachably between the two legs of the bar. The exchangeable border system disclosed in DE '787 is characterized in that the borders are ceramic borders or natural stone borders which can be fastened to the interior of the bar by means of sticking points. The sticking points eliminate the disadvantage of fastening the borders via an adhesive bed. A joint mass, e.g. a joint mortar or a silicone cord, that may, if necessary, be applied between the legs and the border, provides additional support. When removing the border, only this joint material has to be removed, and the border can, as a rule, be taken out without any damage and be replaced by another border.

[0011] It is a disadvantage of the exchangeable border system disclosed in DE '787 that tiles or plates of a different format, e.g., decorating tiles, often have to be laid instead of or in addition to borders. Due to the differing formats it is then necessary to provide different bars for them. This is disadvantageous with respect to the production effort and the transport and storage costs and similar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining elements, such as borders, tiles, plates or similar, on tiled faces, by means of which commercial borders, tiles, plates, or similar, of all common formats, can be fastened and, if necessary, be exchanged without problems.

[0013] This object is solved by the present invention's device for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining elements on tiled faces. The device includes a bar of substantially U-shaped cross-section which can be fastened to a wall surface between two rows of tiles. The wall and floor lining elements can be detachably fastened on the bar between first and second legs extending from a U-shaped portion thereof. The first leg of the bar is movable towards and away from the second leg of the bar to vary a distance between the first and second legs of the bar.

[0014] By the fact that the distance of the two legs is variable or adjustable within a certain range due to the movability of at least one of the two legs, a substantial additional advantage results over the system disclosed in DE '787. In other words, the advantage of the present invention over the system disclosed in DE '787 is that the bar of the device of the present invention can be adapted to the most varied border or tile formats without any problems. This may, by maintaining only one bar format, be performed in the course of laying, more or less, on the spot, i.e., without expensive prior calculation work or similar being necessary to determine which amount of which bar material is required in the case of the tiler's work in question. There is also the advantage that special formats which may, for instance, result during laying from necessary cuffing work, can be integrated unproblematically into the bar system.

[0015] The movable leg is preferably provided on a runner which is shiftably guided or mounted along the base of the U-shaped portion of the bar. This renders it possible for substantially the entire longitudinal extension of the U-shaped portion of the bar to be provided as a shifting path for the runner and thus for the movable leg, so that the distance of the first and second legs can be adjusted with respect to each other over a wide range.

[0016] If the base of the U-shaped portion of the bar is, in the range of the stationary leg, extended beyond the outer vertical end face of the stationary leg in order to form a projecting crosspiece, there is the possibility that the bar of the device according to the present invention is held by the adjacent tile of the tiled face resting on the crosspiece. Additional fastening means for the bar, for instance anchoring nails or similar, are thus not necessary.

[0017] Preferably, the first and second legs, extending from the U-shaped portion of the bar, recede by a certain amount with respect to a surface of the wall and floor lining elements. Thus, complete joining becomes possible, with the free outwardly visible end faces or ends of the first and second legs being completely covered, by the joint or the joint material (i.e., mortar, silicone, or similar).

[0018] According to another preferred embodiment, the free front end faces of the first and second legs extending from the U-shaped portion of the bar may be substantially flush with the surface of the wall and floor lining elements and thus, are not covered by joint material. In this case, they form visible decorating edges.

[0019] According to another preferred embodiment, decorating profiles can be put on the free ends of the first and second legs. In this way, a particularly interesting, optically and esthetically attractive appearance may be achieved, for instance, for rows of borders.

[0020] When the borders or other ceramic or naturals stone plates are fastened to the bar by means of sticking points, as is provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment, an advance fastening of the borders or tiles may be performed, so to speak, subsequent to which the final laying, as already explained, is performed by the joint material to be applied circumferentially. With an appropriate holding force of the sticking points provided, the additional embedding via a joint material may possibly also be renounced, so that the embodiment with the non-joinable joints, i.e., with the visible or decorating edges, as already mentioned, can be realized. However, the borders or other ceramic or natural stone plates may also be fastened to the bar by means of Velcro® fastening, in particular by means of a Velcro® band adhered to the base of the bar over the full area thereof, the counterpiece thereof being adhered to the rear of the border and similar. This kind of fastening is a preferred possibility when the borders or other ceramic or natural stone lining elements are used on the floor since there they are subject to great loads resulting from being walked upon and may break when they are in a partially hollow position in the case of being fastened by means of sticking points.

[0021] The bar may be a plastic or metal profile manufactured by continuous casting or extrusion molding, this enabling efficient production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0022] Further details, aspects, and advantages of the present invention result from the following description by making reference to the drawing, wherein:

[0023]FIG. 1 is a schematically simplified lateral view illustrating the device for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining elements on tiled faces according to the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a schematically simplified lateral view corresponding to FIG. 1 for explaining the mechanism;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a schematically simplified lateral view of the device according to the present invention in the mounted condition and enlarged as compared to FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a schematically simplified lateral view, substantially corresponding to FIG. 3, of a modified form of the present invention showing decorating profiles put on the legs; and

[0027]FIG. 5 an exploded schematically simplified lateral view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

[0028] The scales of the individual figures of the drawing are not identical to each other. However, equal reference numerals do denote equal parts or elements, or parts or elements corresponding to one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In accordance with the drawing and more particularly referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 2, for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining elements on tiled faces, according to the present invention, substantially comprises a bar 4 having a U-shaped cross section, extending into and out of the drawing plane, and having a base 6, in the form of a rigid plate, and first and second lateral legs 8 and 10. At least one, preferably a plurality of, sticking or adhesive points 12 are provided between the first and second legs 8 and 10 along the longitudinal extension of the bar 4. The leg 10, which is on the right side in all figures of the drawing, is integral with the base 6 and thus stationary vis-à-vis thereto.

[0030] Furthermore, the base 6 is extended in the range of the stationary leg 10 beyond the outer vertical end face thereof and forms a projecting crosspiece 14. The crosspiece 14 is thicker or higher than the base 6 or the rigid plate, respectively.

[0031] The leg 8 is positioned on a runner 16 or more preferably, is formed integrally therewith. The runner 16 is shiftable or adjustable vis-à-vis the leg 10 along the base 6 perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the bar 4 by guide or bearing means that are not illustrated in the drawing. Between the two inner faces 18 and 20 of the first and second legs 8 and 10, respectively, a receiving space 22 is defined, which can be adjusted in width or, in an illustration of the device 2 turned about 90°, which corresponds to the later vertical mounting position on a wall, in height.

[0032]FIG. 1 shows the runner 16 and thus, the first leg 8 is positioned at the outermost left end of the base 6 or rigid plate and accordingly, the receiving space 22 has a maximum size or extension.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows how the runner 16 is movable towards the second leg 10 (see the arrow), so that the receiving space 22 can be reduced. Preferably, two end positions of the runner 16 are defined by the guiding or bearing means, for instance, the two end positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The end position according to FIG. 1, which cannot be exceeded as such anyway, results in a receiving space 22 in which a tile or plate of an extension of, e.g., 25 cm, can be received. The end position of the runner 16, illustrated in FIG. 2, would then correspond to a receiving space 22 serving to receive a strip or a border having a width of, e.g., 12.5 cm. Of course, the end position of the runner 16, illustrated in FIG. 2, merely constitutes an exemplary position, and the runner 16 may be moved further towards the second leg 10 on the right side in FIG. 2, so that narrow borders having a width of, e.g., 1 cm, may also be received in the receiving space 22 resulting then.

[0034] Between the two extreme positions according to FIGS. 1 and 2, any number of intermediate positions is, of course, possible.

[0035]FIG. 3 shows a device 2, for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining elements on tiled faces, according to the present invention, in the mounted condition. The device 2 or the bar 4 rests, with the bottom of the base 6 or rigid plate, on a wall surface 24. A tile 26 rests on the crosspiece 14 that projects the second leg 10 laterally and contacts, with its end edge, the outer vertical end face of the leg 10. Between the bottom of the tile 26 and the wall surface 24, a tile adhesive bed 28 is applied in a well-known manner. By the tile 26 fixed by means of the adhesive bed 28, the bar 4 of the device 2 is fixed on the side of the second leg 10 vis-à-vis the wall surface 24. The same applies to the area of the bar 4 on the left side of FIG. 3, where another tile 30 covers the base 6 and is connected by the adhesive bed 28 vis-à-vis the wall surface 24, so that the area of the bar 4 that is at the left side in FIG. 3 is also fixed vis-à-vis the wall surface 24. The tile 30 rests, with its end or edge portion being on the right side in FIG. 3, in a vertical direction on the horizontal surface of the runner 16 and in a horizontal direction on the outer vertical end face of the first leg 8.

[0036] A border 32 is fixed between the first and second legs 8 and 10 by the sticking point 12. A gap exists between the vertical outer end faces of the border 32 and the inner faces 18 and 20 of each of first and second legs 8 and 10, respectively, which is subsequently filled with a joint material 34, for instance, a joint mortar or a silicone cord. Thereby, and by the sticking point(s) 12, the border 32 is safely fixed between the first and second legs 8 and 10. The illustration of FIG. 3 directly reveals that, in the case of a broader border 32, the runner 16 for the first leg 8 in FIG. 3 is moved further to the left so as to correspondingly increase the receiving space for the border 32 or a similar wall or floor lining element.

[0037] In FIG. 3, the height extension of the first and second legs 8 and 10 has been chosen such that they recede by a certain amount vis-à-vis the free surfaces of the tiles 26 and 30, this resulting in a recess which is then filled by the joint material 34. Thereby, the outer free front end faces of the first and second legs 8 and 10 are not visible outwardly, but are covered by the joint material 34, as results from FIG. 3. However, if a corresponding adaptation in color is provided, the first and second legs 8 and 10 may be so high that they are flush with the surfaces of the tiles 26 and 30 and the border 32 and thus, act as decorating or visible strips.

[0038]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of the present invention, which differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 substantially in that decorating profiles 36 may be put on the free ends of the first and second legs 8 and 10. These decorating profiles stand out, in the way illustrated in FIG. 4, between the front end faces of the tiles 26 and 30 and the border 32 in between, and result in an optically attractive and interesting appearance.

[0039] When these decorating profiles 36 are manufactured of an elastically deformable material, for instance, a rubber-like material, they adhere densely to the outer side faces of the border 32 during mounting and prevent water from penetrating between the tiles 26 and 30 and the border 32 even without any joint material being applied.

[0040] To this end, the border 32 is first of all inserted in the receiving space 22, which is sufficiently large, and is pressed firmly against the decorating profile 36 on the side of the second leg 10, wherein this decorating profile 36 possibly slightly deforms elastically and builds up a firm contact with the border wall 32. Subsequently, with the tile 30 not yet laid, the runner 16 of the first leg 8 is moved along the base 6 of the bar 4 towards the border 32 until the decorating profile 36 there has snuggled up to the border 32 also under elastic deformation. The adjacent tile 30 is then laid to fix the runner 16 and thus the first leg 8 vis-à-vis the border 32.

[0041] Both the bar 4 with the second leg 10 and the crosspiece 14, as well as the runner 16 with the leg 8, may preferably be manufactured by extrusion molding or continuous casting as plastic or metal profiles.

[0042] The device according to the present invention enables the unproblematic, as a rule damage-free and cheap removal of the “old” borders or decorating tiles or other ceramic plates or natural stone plates. The new borders, tiles, and similar are subsequently newly laid into the existing bar system without expensive prior work (removal of the old mortar bed and similar) becoming necessary. The bar of the device is adjustable to any common border or tile format by the adjustable distance of the two legs. Thus, only one single bar format is necessary even when laying different formats, which substantially reduces the effort. Formats deviating from the standard size, which may, e.g., result from cutting works that become necessary during laying, can be taken into account without any problems.

[0043] What was above-described is a device for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining parts, such as borders, tiles, plates or similar, on tiled faces, comprising a bar of substantially U-shaped cross-section which can be fastened to the wall surface between two rows of tiles, and on which the wall and floor lining elements can be fastened detachably between the first and second legs extending from the U-shaped portion of the bar. At least one of the first and second legs, extending from the U-shaped portion of the bar, is movable such that its distance can be varied vis-à-vis the other leg. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the united states is:
 1. A device for the exchangeable and partial fixing of ceramic or natural stone wall and floor lining elements on tiled faces, the device comprising: a bar of substantially U-shaped cross-section which can be fastened to a wall surface between two rows of tiles, and on which the wall and floor lining elements can be detachably fastened between first and second legs extending from a U-shaped portion of the bar, wherein the first leg of the bar is movable towards and away from the second leg of the bar to vary a distance between the first and second legs of the bar.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first leg of the bar is a movable leg formed on a runner which is shiftably guided or mounted along a base of the U-shaped portion of the bar.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second leg is a stationary leg so that a base of the U-shaped portion of the bar is extended beyond the outer vertical end face of the stationary leg in order to form a projecting crosspiece.
 4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the second leg is a stationary leg so that the base of the U-shaped portion of the bar is extended beyond the outer vertical end face of the stationary leg in order to form a projecting crosspiece.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein free front end faces of the first and second legs of the bar recede by a certain amount with respect to a surface of the wall and floor lining elements.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the free front faces of the first and second legs of the bar are substantially flush with the surface of the wall and floor lining elements.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein decorating profiles can be put on free ends of the first and second legs.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall and floor lining elements are fastened to the bar via sticking points.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall and floor lining elements are fated to the bar via a Velcro® fastener over the entire area.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bar is manufactured by extrusion molding or continuous casting as a plastic or metal profile.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall and floor lining elements include any one of borders, tiles, and plates. 